Dynamic array presentation and multiple selection of digitally stored objects and corresponding link tokens for simultaneous presentation

ABSTRACT

A system and method for the multiple selection of digitally stored objects and the link-tokens of each selected object for simultaneous presentation and examination of the selected objects with their associated linked objects and information, including organized array presentation for graphical thumbnails that represent the selected objects, as well as sub-framing, which allows intelligent partitioning of information associated with an object.

RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application is a Continuation of U.S. patent application Ser. No.09/544,036, filed Apr. 6, 2000 now U.S. Pat. No. 8,042,063 which claimsbenefit of priority to U.S. Provisional Patent Application No.60/130,397, filed Apr. 19, 1999. All of the aforementioned priorityapplications are hereby incorporated by reference in their entirety forall purposes.

COPYRIGHT NOTICE

Contained herein is material that is subject to copyright protection.The copyright owner has no objection to the facsimile reproduction ofthe patent disclosure by any person, as it appears in the Patent andTrademark Office patent files or records, but otherwise reserves allrights to the copyright whatsoever.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Field of the Invention

The present invention is related to the multiple selection of digitallypresented and digitally stored objects (starting objects), and thelink-tokens linking the starting objects to additional information,data, and/or related data-entry or transaction mechanisms (destinationobjects) pertinent to each selected starting object, for simultaneouspresentation and examination of the selected starting objects along withtheir associated linked destination objects/information. The presentinvention further relates to an organized dynamic array presentation forgraphical thumbnails. The term “dynamic” refers to the automatic“self-scrolling” and “user programmable” features of thearray-presentation. When the number of elements of a row or a columnexceeds what the view-frame of the display-screen or browser can displaysimultaneously, the row or column begins to scroll through theview-frame as soon as the row (or column is filled). Viewers canprogram/select what categories are displayed in each row or column, andcan control all rows and columns independently.

Graphical thumbnails are small images that represent objects frequentlyused in on-line or other viewable recording media (such as CD ROM) torepresent the objects that are best represented by the image.Additionally, the present invention provides for sub-framing, whichallows intelligent partitioning of information associated with anobject.

Description of Related Art

The application of hyper text mark up language (HTML), dynamic HTML,scripting languages, such as Java, Common Gateway Interface (CGI),Practical Extraction and Report Language (PERL), Visual Basic ScriptLanguage, VBScript, and derivatives thereof, other languages, markuplanguages, or metalanguages, such as the Standard Generalized MarkupLanguage (SGML-ISO 8879), extensible Markup Language (XML), CascadingStyle Sheet (CSS), JAVA, JAVASCRIPT, Java Speech Markup Language (JSML),and ActiveX allow the static and dynamic presentation and linking ofcomputer stored objects (texts, graphics, icons, parts, items, lists,audio and video segments, etc.) from a container, i.e., a file, acollection of objects, or a “page” of information, to relatedinformation and/or other objects and other containers via a softwarelink token. A link token is an addressing pointer, pointing to thememory location of the linked destination. A link token is usuallyrepresented by a textstring, an underlined textstring, a bullet in frontof a textstring, a color change of a text string, a graphical icon orthumbnail. An “index finger hand” would appear when the cursor is placedon an object that has an embedded link-token. A typical web page cancontain numerous link-tokens, but only one link-token can be evoked at atime. When a link token is selected and evoked, for example, by clickingthe computer “mouse” left-button while resting the cursor on the objectwith a link-token, the Browser would bring forth the destination object,i.e., a webpage that is linked by the link-token, from the database ormemory bank in the connected storage media and/or networked computersand their storage media that is addressed by the evoked link token. TheBrowser then presents the object for viewing or examination by theviewer, i.e., the human, device, or computer software that evoked thelink-token. The pointing-clicking action to “select” can similarly beperformed with a wireless point-click device, such as a light-pen, orother remote input/control device.

However, on conventional web sites, selecting the starting object andits associated link-token from a segment of media (e.g., a page ofgraphics and texts, a list of parts, a segment of video or audiorecording) where many objects and link-tokens are present, can only beperformed one link at a time. When a particular link-token is evoked byclicking the left button of the mouse (a computer input device), or anyremote input/control device, while the cursor is resting on thelink-token, the destination object is brought forth for viewing orexamination from the recording media addressed by the link-token. Whenone wishes to evoke another link-token on the starting (previous) page,he/she must return to that page by “clicking” the “Back” tool-button onthe upper-left corner of the browser screen, to find the next link-tokento be evoked. This operation must be done one token at a time, in serialfashion. If more additional objects from the starting page, or segmentof media, are of interest, one must return to the segment to make asingle selection from the interested objects, and evoke its associatedlink-token, again, repeatedly, one at a time. Moving forward andbackward in segments of media or a series of web pages linked by thelink tokens in this manner is a slow, awkward, labor-intensiveprocedure. FIG. 1A shows a flow chart depicting this process.

This procedure/methodology is especially awkward when there are manyobjects of interest in a particular starting segment, container, or pageof media, and when there are multiple links of interest embedded againin the subsequent linked destination pages. The viewing human orexamination devices are often taken several link-addressing steps awayfrom the starting segment or page, such as an index list of items ofinterest, and are taken through multiple branches on a subsequent page.Such multiple branching causes the “Back” button pointer to loop betweenthe two branches, making returning to the pages prior to the branchingdifficult, or even impossible. The URL (Universal Resource Locator)addresses of the prior pages and/or starting page must be remembered andentered in the “go to:” URL Address entry box on the Browser tool-bandlocated at the top of the Browser frame, to return to the starting pagein such situation.

FIGS. 2A through 8F show examples of pages from conventional web siteson which digitally stored starting objects are selected one at a timeand their associated dynamically linked destination objects aredisplayed for viewing one at a time. One can only select and evoke asingle link, out of the numerous links present on a web page. To selectanother object or link of interest from the page, one must return to thepage, via clicking repeatedly the “Back” button on the Browsertool-band, reversing the path over which one has navigated in theforward direction in following the previously selected links. The colorof a selected link or object does not change when placing the cursor onthe link, nor when clicking on the link to select and evoke the link.The color change only manifests itself when after having selected andevoked the link, the browser returns “Back” to the page from which thelink was selected and evoked.

FIGS. 2A-2G show a first example of pages from a conventional web site,i.e., Excite™, where one can only select a single item from the 106luxury cars listed in FIGS. 2A-2F in 20 item segments and six physical“title only” pages. By “clicking” the left “mouse” button, while thecursor is resting on the selected item, the Browser brings the firstlevel information linked to that item, and displayed for viewing asshown in FIG. 2G. Each underlined text string (an object, representingthe “title” of a particular luxury car) has one link-token signified bythe underline, with a single address pointer, pointing to a web pagecontaining the information associated with this particular link. Onlyone single link (the underlined text string title) can beselected/clicked to bring forth and view the first level informationassociated with this underlined/linked “title”, for example, the BMW740iL from the first listing segment page. If a browser is interested inanother three titles from the page, he must return “Back” to thisparticular listing segment page in order to select one of these threetitles, and repeat the procedure three times. It may happen that one isviewing several pages of information several links deep to a title onthe sixth segment page of the listing, and is interested in comparingthis title to another two titles in the third segment page, and threetitles in the first segment page. To do so, one would need to print thecurrent information pages, one link at a time, and then either rememberthe uniform resource locator (URL) (i.e., the address) of the thirdsegment, or click the “Back” button of the Browser as many times of thelink-levels of the last information page to return to the 6^(th) segmentpage where the current title locates, and then three more times to getto the third segment, each time clicking a “continue” indicator in apop-up dialog box that indicates you, i.e., the browser, are submittinginformation “unsecured”. The user must then wait for the uploading ofthe “unsecured” address to the site-server, and the downloading of theaddressed information from the site-server to the desktop computer, tofinally reach the third segment to click/select one of the twointerested titles on that segment. The user would then need to print theresulting information; click “Back” one time to return to the segment,and click/select the another one title of interest on this segment page;print the resulting information. The user would then click the “Back”button two times, each time waiting for each segment page to load, toreach the first segment page. Finally the user must then click/selectone of the three interested titles, print the resulting information,click the “Back” button one time, wait for the content to load, andrepeat the procedure another two times for the remaining two interestedtitles from the page. If the user wishes to compare more number of itemsfrom the 106 item listing, the process becomes even more elaborate.

FIGS. 3A-3G show a second example of pages from a conventional web site,ebaY™, on which various categories of items including STAR WARS Episode1 posters and a set of four 650 watt sub woofer stereo speakers shown asunderlined text strings on the ebaY™ Home Page in FIG. 3A can beselected and displayed at a time as shown in FIGS. 3B-3G. The invocationof a link-token (represented by the underline) associated with theparticular object represented/indexed by the text-string underlined, byclicking the left mouse button while the cursor is brought to theunderlined text string title/index of the object, would bring forth theinformation page linked to this particular object represented by theunderlined text string. Second stage links on this (brought forth) pagewould link to other additional pages containing further informationrelated the particular “featured object.” If one is interested inviewing information about another featured object on the ebaY™ HomePage, one must return to the ebaY™ Home Page from wherever thenavigation has led the viewer, and repeat the process as many times asthe number of items that interest the viewer.

As will be discussed further with regard to the present invention, themulti-tier information associated with particular items, such as theitems listed in FIGS. 3A-3B, is not “sub-framed” to allow a sensiblearray presentation of such information. Such an array feature as in thepresent invention would provide a comparison-shopping capability that ishighly desirable and easily comprehensible in one setting with oneretrieval process. Yet, conventional systems and methods only enableinformation about items in a list such to be accessed one-at-a-time, andone-level, one-link-at-a-time. To view other interested items, one mustreturn to scan the list over and over again, at times returning “Back”from many addresses away, which is an arduous, time consuming, andannoying process.

Additional examples of pages from conventional web sites on which only asingle item from a list of items can be selected and displayed forviewing at a time are shown in: FIGS. 4A-4E, which show camera equipmentfor sale on the ebaY™ web site; FIGS. 5A-5B which show home products forsale on the Yahoo!™ web site; FIGS. 6A-6G which show home designproducts for sale on the Homeportfolio™ web site; FIGS. 7A-7K which showvarious tiffanysia jewelry items for sale on the ebaY™ web site; andFIGS. 8A-8F which show various news headlines from theMicrosoft™/National Broadcasting Corporation™ (MSNBC™) news web site.

To view multiple headlined news articles listed on the homepage ofMSNBC.COM shown in FIGS. 8A-8B, for example, one must select oneheadline at a time, clicking forward to additional links on follow-onpages, to wherever the article leads through the hierarchy of multipleinterested reads/links on subsequent pages. To view another headlinearticle, the browser must click backward as many times from where theprevious article has taken him via clicking forward, each time waitingfor a page to download, until back to the headline page, to clickanother interested article on that page. If multiple branches are takenfrom a page subsequent to the headline page, or a page containingmultiple links of interest, the browser is often lost in a loop, andcannot get back out of the loop to return to pages prior to the pagefrom which multiple branching is taken.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention provides for the multiple selection of digitallystored and presented objects (texts, graphics, parts, lists, audio orvideo segments, etc.) with their associated dynamic link-tokens(addressing pointers) from any starting container of digitally recordedmedia, such as pages of text or graphics, lists of items, parts,objects, symbols, icons, digitally recorded audio or video segments, andthe simultaneous presentation, displaying, viewing, and/or examinationof the destination objects and/or information linked to these selectedstarting objects through their associated link-tokens.

The present invention enables a far more efficient viewing,comprehension, comparing, examination of all information related to themultiple interested objects at once, without having to present and exameach interested object and its singly linked information (at times atdepths of many levels of links), one at a time, and each time having toreturn “Back” to the address of the starting container or page, wait forthe loading of the content of the container from the storage device,repeating for several cycles, until reaching the starting container/pageto select another interested object and its link, again one at a time,and one level at a time.

Additionally, the present invention provides for the organized arraypresentation of static or dynamically rolling/scrolling graphicthumbnails. Graphical thumbnails are frequently used in on-line or otherviewable recording media (such as CD ROM) to represent objects that arebest represented with their images. The invention dynamically presents alarge collection of thumbnails in a two-dimensional array with aselectively adjustable number of columns and rows. The present inventionprovides mechanisms for a user/viewer to select/program each row orcolumn to display thumbnails of a particular category of objects. Thepresent invention also dynamically and automatically scrolls thethumbnails through the display-screen or Browser view-frame, when thecontent of a particular row(s) or column(s) of thumbnails exceeds (andextends beyond) the displaying capacity of the display-screen or Browserview-frame. This method of presentation allows easy overview,multiple-selection for detailed viewing and examination of multipleobjects in the array, easy comparison and further selection (for examplefor buying/acquiring), and optimized utilization of screen/media realestate. This invention also provides mechanisms for the user/viewer tocontrol the automated scrolling, display larger and more detailedgraphics and detailed information of selected thumbnails, and makemultiple-selections from the displayed information of a large number ofselected objects for further purposes.

Finally, the present invention provides for sub-framing. The sub-framingallows intelligent partitioning of information associated with an objectthat is typically linked to the object through multiple numbers andlevels of links. Dynamic scroll bars in each subframe are used to allowthe orderly arraying and presentation of “primarily textual” contentsassociated with a graphical content to be side-by-side with thegraphical content. The textual content may have a length and/or widththat are incompatible to the optimal sizing of the graphical content. Bysub-framing the graphical content and the textual content of differingnature or subject, the presentation can be arrayed in an orderly manner,using scroll bars to indicate the existence of additional content beyondthe viewing area. Furthermore, this invention includes a feature thatwhen the cursor is moved within a sub-frame area, indicating thebrowser's interest in the content of the sub-frame, the complete contentof the sub-frame would be displayed on the computer screen, saving thebrowser effort that would otherwise be needed in scrolling the scrollbar to view the content contained beyond the viewing area.

Furthermore, the present invention allows an array to present thumbnailsof differing categories or sub-categories in each row (or column) in thearray. For categories that contain more thumbnails than the screenviewing area can accommodate, the rows or columns of such categorieswould show horizontal (or vertical) scroll bars to indicate additionalcontent beyond the viewing area. The additional content can be viewed bymanual or automated scrolling of the scroll bars. The automatedscrolling feature of the present invention can automatically commenceupon the rows/column's filling the display-screen/Browser view-frame,and when their content exceeds/extends-beyond the display-screen orBrowser view-frame. The manner, direction, and speed of scrolling can becontrolled and commanded by the viewer/user, using command buttonsprovided by this invention.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 shows a flow chart illustrating the steps by which digitallystored objects are selected and their associated dynamically linkeddestination objects displayed for viewing on conventional (known-art)web sites.

FIGS. 2A-2G show a first example of pages from a conventional(known-art) web site, Excite.com, on which objects are both selected anddisplayed for viewing one at a time.

FIG. 3A-3G shows a second example of pages from a conventional(known-art) web site, ebaY.com, on which objects are both selected anddisplayed for viewing one at a time.

FIGS. 4A-4E show a third example of pages from a conventional(known-art) web site, ebaY.com, on which objects are both selected anddisplayed for viewing one at a time.

FIGS. 5A-5B show a fourth example of pages from a conventional(known-art) web site, Yahoo!™.com, on which objects are both selectedand displayed for viewing one at a time.

FIGS. 6A-6G show a fifth example of pages from a conventional(known-art) web site, Homeportfolio™.com, on which objects are bothselected and displayed for viewing one at a time.

FIGS. 7A-7K show a sixth example of pages from a conventional(known-art) web site, ebaY™.com, on which objects are both selected anddisplayed for viewing one at a time.

FIGS. 8A-8F show a seventh example of pages from a conventional(known-art) web site, MSNBC™.com, on which objects are both selected anddisplayed for viewing one at a time.

FIGS. 9A-9E show a first exemplary embodiment of pages from apresent-invention web site on which multiple objects are both selectedand simultaneously displayed for viewing using the system and methodaccording to the present invention.

FIGS. 10A-10D show a second exemplary embodiment of pages from apresent-invention web site on which multiple objects are both selectedand simultaneously displayed for viewing using the system and methodaccording to the present invention.

FIGS. 11A1-11C shows a third exemplary embodiment of pages from apresent-invention web site on which multiple objects are both selectedand simultaneously displayed for viewing using the system and methodaccording to the present invention.

FIGS. 12A1-12E shows a fourth exemplary embodiment of pages from apresent invention web site on which multiple objects are both selectedand simultaneously displayed for viewing using the system and methodaccording to the present invention.

FIG. 13 shows flow chart illustrating the steps of present invention bywhich digitally stored and presented starting objects and links aremultiply selected and their associated dynamically linked destinationobjects retrieved and presented simultaneously according to the presentinvention, respectively.

FIGS. 14A-14M2 show an automated scrolling thumbnail array feature ofthe present invention, with rows presenting thumbnails of selectablecategories of products and a column representing another selectablecategory, such as a “promotion” category at the right side of the page.Example control buttons are also show to allow users/views tocontrol/select the content and scrolling. When the number of thumbnailsin a category exceeds what the display-screen or Browser view-frame canfit in, the thumbnails begin to scroll automatically, as soon as the rowor column is filled, and loops around the view-frame. Alternately, theauto-scrolling can be programmed to stop, at the end, when allthumbnails have been show.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE EMBODIMENTS OF THE INVENTION

Described is a method and apparatus for the multiple selection ofdigitally stored and presented starting objects from a startingcontainer, e.g. a web page, and the link-tokens of each selected objectfor simultaneous presentation and examination of the selected objectswith multiple-levels of their associated linked objects and information.Further described is a method and apparatus for an organized and dynamicarray presentation for graphical thumbnails. Additionally described is amethod and apparatus for sub-framing, which allows for the intelligentpartitioning of information associated with an object. In the followingdescription, numerous specific details are set forth in order to providea thorough understanding of the present invention. It will be apparent,however, to one of ordinary skill in the art that the present inventionmay be practiced without these specific details. In other instances,well-known architectures, steps, and techniques have not been shown toavoid unnecessarily obscuring the present invention.

The multiple selection of digitally stored and presented objects (texts,graphics, lists, catalogs, audio or video segments, etc.) with theirassociated dynamic link-tokens (addressing pointers) from any othercontainer of digitally recorded media, such as pages of text orgraphics, lists of items, parts, other objects, symbols, icons,digitally recorded audio or video segments, and the simultaneouspresentation, displaying, viewing, and/or examination of the destinationobjects and/or information linked to these selected starting objectsthrough their associated link-tokens, enable a far more efficient methodfor viewing, comprehending, comparing, and examining all informationpertinent to these selected interested objects. This is in contrast tothe prior art, where each interested object is selected one at a time,and its sole link token invoked one at a time, at times at depths ofseveral hierarchical levels of links, to present and exam eachinterested object and its linked information, one object at a time andone link at a time, and returning by clicking the “Back” button multipletimes to the URL address of the starting container/page, where theindices and links to other interested objects reside. Each forward orbackward click is compounded by having to wait for the loading of thecontent of the associated page from the remote storage device(s).

Referring now to FIGS. 9A-9E, which show a first exemplary embodiment ofthe present invention in which rugs from an array of rugs shown in FIGS.9A-9B can be selected via checking the associated selection check-boxes92, and clicking the “Submit” 94 button in FIG. 9B so that thedynamically linked associated information pertaining to the selectedrugs is simultaneously displayed for viewing as shown in FIGS. 9C-9E.This enables multiple rugs to be simultaneously viewed and examined atthe same time, side-by-side. To “de-select” a particular previouslyselected rug, can be accomplished by clicking on the “checked” selectioncheck-box. To “null” all previous selections and start over, a viewercan “click” the “Reset” button 96 in FIG. 9B, which will erase all“checks” from the previously “checked” check-boxes. In FIGS. 9C-9E, thelarger/detailed pictures of the selected rugs have apredetermined/optimized size, and are arrayed in column labeled“Picture.” The textual information of each of the selected rugs, whichmay contain further links to audio, video, even more detaileddescriptions, or phone connection to the merchant selling the rug, arearrayed in the Description column next to the picture column. Thetransaction information and commands are contained in column labeled“Auction Bids.”. When and if content of some or all elements of theAuction Bids or Description column exceeds the height of the Picturecolumn, a vertical scroll-bar 99 would appear at the right side of suchelements.

Referring now to FIGS. 10A-10D, which show a second exemplary embodimentof the present invention, in which multiple luxury cars from a list ofluxury cars shown in FIGS. 10A-10B can be selected from the selectioncheck-box 102 to the left of each listing, so that the dynamicallylinked associated information pertaining to the selected cars issimultaneously displayed for viewing as shown in FIGS. 10C-10D. Thisenables a multitude of information regarding the multitude of selectedcars to be simultaneously retrieved, displayed, viewed, and comparedside-by-side.

Graphical thumbnails are frequently used in on-line or other viewablerecording media (such as CD ROM) to represent objects that are bestrepresented by an image. Such objects include products such asfurniture, painting, rugs, and parts catalogs, just to name a fewexamples. In the prior art, graphics thumbnails are used either in alinear fashion as shown in FIGS. 6D-6G, random as shown in FIGS. 7A-7H,or semi-random. However, with reference to FIGS. 9A-9E, the presentinvention dynamically presents a large collection of thumbnails in atwo-dimensional array with a selectively adjustable number of columnsand rows. This method of presentation allows easy viewing andexamination, easy selection, and optimized utilization of screen/mediareal estate. When the number of thumbnails exceeds what can be shownwithin the view-frame of the display-screen or Browser, the presentinvention automatically scrolls the array into view, at user selectablespeed.

With reference to FIGS. 9D-9E and 10C-10D, sub-framing allowsintelligent partitioning of information associated with an object. Thedynamic scroll bars allow the orderly arraying and presentation of“primarily textual” contents associated to a graphical content, wheretextual content may occupy an area with a length (at a chosen width)that is incompatible to the optimal sizing for the graphics.

According to an embodiment of the present invention, the multipleselection mechanism, for example, can be effected/represented bycheck-boxes 92 and 102 associated with each “selectable” startingobject, as shown in FIGS. 9A-9C and 10A-10B. However, this mechanism canalso be implemented by changing the color of the link-token (anunderline, a bullet, a dot, a change of shading when touched by thecursor, or any symbolic representation of a link-token), wherein thelink-tokens are a first color/shading before being selected, change to asecond color/shading when they are selected, and are a third color whenthe browser “returns back” to the list of link tokens from thesimultaneously displayed associated destination objects to selectadditional link-tokens. The third color differentiates those link-tokenswhose associated destination objects have already been selected,retrieved, and simultaneously displayed, from those link-tokens whoseassociated starting object have not yet been selected, and destinationobjects have not yet been retrieved and displayed. A single click by amouse, for example, can represent select, and the color of the selectedtoken changes to indicate its selected status, whereas a double click ofthe input device can represent “submit,” and all destination objectslinked through the selected tokens are brought forth with thedouble-click. Another way to accomplish this mechanism is to click leftbutton of the mouse while holding down the right button to select, orvise-versa. The link-tokens selected change color, and a click of theleft button without holding down the right button represents “submit” tobring forth the linked destination objects. Or the regular single clickon the left button represents “select” and a single or double click onthe left button while holding down the right button can represent“submit.”

In the embodiments of the present invention, each starting object can belinked to three separate destination containers, or a destinationcontainer containing on graphic folder, one text and links folder, andone frame with multiple objects, commands, and multiple link-tokens,each represented as a separate “internal,” or “sub” frame with dynamicscroll bars. However, it will be appreciated by those of ordinary skillin the art that the destination object linked to a selected objectthrough the link token can be an object, multiple objects, a containercontaining multiple objects, or multiple containers each containingmultiple objects of various and differing media. The graphics folderportion, for example, can contain multiple links to a set of multiplephotographs taken from different angles, a video, an audio description,a music segment, or another textual description, or an actionable linkto forward the photograph to a friend or a relative. Selection andinvocation of such a link may spawn a “process” with a separate “pop-up”frame or window, while retaining the “parent” window, or advance theoriginal “parent” window to the uniform resource locator (URL) of theobject to which the invoked link-token points. The sub-framing anddynamic scroll bars allow the orderly arraying and presentation of“primarily textual” contents of varied length and width that may not bethe same as to the optimal height and/or width for the graphics frame.

In the embodiment of the present invention shown in FIGS. 10A-10D,multiple car titles and their links are selected from a list. Theselections are submitted to retrieve and present the multipledestination objects (in this case, a photograph of the car in onesubframe, its textual description in another sub-frame, and anactionable command and information sub-frame). Each group of destinationobjects is associated with each starting object (e.g., a selected cartitle), containing information associated with each selected startingobject. There is no limitation to the size of the list, the number ofselections, the size, content, and number of fields of each destinationobject, other than the limitation of practicality and the size of thestorage device.

Clicking on the photograph of the car in FIG. 10C-10D, picture-column,for example, may provide a separate window detailing enlargedphotographs of multiple directional views, a panning and scanning videowith sound or audio description of the car, the manufacturer's detailedspecifications and drawings, etc. Clicking on the “description” frame inthe second column may bring forth a menu for related articles, thirdparty commentaries, appraisals, detailed maintenance and usage records,etc. Upon clicking the mouse button for a selection or multipleselections, a separate window pops up to display the selected items, forexample, the appraisal and the detailed maintenance and usage records.Clicking on the “action/auction” frame in the third column, a menu showspossible selections of merchant records/information, customer feedback,bidding history, video-conferencing, telephone or email contact with themerchant, etc. A separate window to display selected items at this levelmay be spawned when a selection or multiple selections are made.

An embodiment of the present invention further contemplates a twodimensional array presentation of graphical thumbnails of objects(paintings, furniture, rugs, lamps, jewelry, clothes, sculptures,machine parts, etc.) and the multiple selection of their associatedlinks to simultaneously present multiple destination objects and objectfields, such as detailed graphics (which can also be audio or videosegments), a textual information window/frame containing additionallinks, and an actionable command and informational window/frameassociated with each selected starting thumbnail. Similar secondaryselections are possible from pop-up menus associated with eachwindow/frame as described above. As shown in FIG. 14A, sub-framing thearray allows a number of categories to be presented on the computerscreen simultaneously; each row or column can represent a category, or asub-category under a main category. When the content, i.e., number ofthumbnails is so large that it can not be viewed in the screen viewingarea, the present invention allows the sub-frame to contain a scroll barto indicate more content beyond the viewing area of the screen in therow or column. An embodiment of the present invention facilitates theautomated scrolling of each row or column presented in a sub-frame. Thedetails of the user controllable automatic scrolling are illustrated inFIGS. 14A-14J, and will be described in further detail later.

Referring now to FIGS. 11A1-11C, illustrating a third exemplaryembodiment of the present invention in which multiple news headlinesfrom a list of news headlines 112 shown in FIG. 11A1 can be selected byvarious mechanisms as described previously in this application, so thatthe dynamically linked associated news stories are simultaneouslyretrieved and displayed for viewing as shown in FIGS. 11B-11C. In thisparticular example, we use the “check-boxes” 114 as a selectionmechanism, for visual clarity. In this example, the viewerselects/clicks headline check-boxes 114A, 114B, and 114C for retrievingthe detailed information by moving the cursor to “Full Story” 116, andclicking the left mouse-button. This enables multiple headlines to besimultaneously retrieved, viewed and read, side-by-side, as shown inFIG. 11B. Although in the embodiment shown the associated news storiesare displayed in three columns, any practical number of columns can beused. In the embodiment shown, if more than three headlines areselected, for example, six headlines, then the news stories associatedwith fourth, fifth and sixth headlines selected will appear verticallybelow (or horizontally next to) the news stories for the first, secondand third headlines selected and can be viewed for reading by verticallyscrolling down (or horizontally scrolling to the right of) the computerscreen. The automatic scrolling feature of the invention scrolls thecontent for the browser when the browser moves the cursor to the bottom(for vertical scrolling down beyond the current screen), or to the right(for horizontal scrolling to the right of the screen) of the view-frame.For optimized interface with human eyes, full-stories of each three tofive (or more, as dictated by the display-screen size) successiveheadline selected is displayed in three to five (or more, whendisplay-screen is large) columns to each full-screen view-frame in themanner as just described.

Referring now to FIGS. 12A1-12E, which show a fourth exemplaryembodiment of the present invention in which multiple stocks from a listof stocks shown in FIG. 12A1 can be selected so that the dynamicallylinked associated graphical, e.g., charts, and alphanumeric, textual, oraudio information (analytical, numerical, and competitive data andanalysis, news, reports, etc.) are simultaneously displayed for viewingas shown in FIGS. 12B-12E, where charts are arrayed in the left columnwith the numerical information arrayed in the right column. Alternately,a first set of number of charts can be arrayed in the first row, withthe associated numerical information underneath it in the 2^(nd) row,and then array the next sequence of charts in the 3^(rd) row, with theassociated numerical information arrayed in the 4^(th) row. This enablesinformation regarding the selected stocks to be simultaneouslyretrieved, viewed and compared at the same time, side-by-side. When afirst one of the simultaneously displayed charts, for example one of thecharts shown in FIG. 12B1, is selected using a computer input devicesuch as, by clicking a computer mouse or a light-pen, while pointing tothe chart, the selected chart is made larger 122, with an addedtrading-volume chart, as shown in FIG. 12C1. More detailed numeric datacan be shown along with the enlarged chart in the now also enlargedassociated right-side area available. When a second one of thesimultaneously displayed charts is selected using the input device, thefirst chart can either remain enlarged, or returns to its originalsmaller size which is the same as all of the other simultaneouslydisplayed charts, while the second chart is made larger than the othersimultaneously displayed charts. FIG. 12D and its continuation printFIG. 12E shows the first alternative, where both of the selectedstocks/charts remain enlarged with further details shown simultaneously.

Referring now to FIG. 13, a flow chart illustrating the steps by whichthe present invention presents a multitude of digitally stored objects,and selecting a multitude of the links that associate these objects tofurther information—the associated dynamically linkeddestination-objects; and then retrieve and present, the multitude ofdestination objects simultaneously for convenient viewing andcomparison. A multitude of links in an electronically stored andarray-presented page 132A, can be selected at will, as exemplified bythe checked check-boxes in 132B, and then submitted simultaneously byclicking a “Submit,” or similar command button 134. Theelectronic/computing device would then, alone or in conjunction with thenetwork of connected electronic/computing devices, retrieve and bringsforth all linked destination objects, including information and commandfacilities, according to the selected links in 132B, and present them onthe device screen in a new window 136A. The information and commandfacilities are organized in sets of sub-frames 136B, grouped togetheraccording to the corresponding starting link in 132. A multitude oflinks can be selected from the multitude of links 138A in this newwindow/page 136A. As the viewer/user completes the selection process, a“Submit” (or the like) command button 138B on this page can be clickedto cause all next level linked information/command-facilities to bebrought forth with yet a new page or new window 138C. The processcontinues henceforth. The present invention saves tremendous cumulativewait time and laborious process from the prior-art. For returning toreview previous pages, the present invention, when implement withstrategic new windows for new pages, has the added advantage of quicklyreturning to view prior pages on the display screen by minimizing apresent top-view window. This can also be accomplished by clicking aparticular prior page-window's corresponding access bar located at thebottom of a Browser, if the particular page-window is not partiallyvisible (while over lapped by the current page-window in theforeground). If the particular page-window is partially visible, theviewer can “click” on any place of the visible portion of thepage/window, which instantly causes the page-window to be displayed inthe foreground. The prior art requires that the viewer/user to enter theURL address of he particular prior page he/she wishes to be displayed,or to click the “Back” button on the Browser tool bar located at the topportion of the Browser, and wait for the immediate previous-page to loadon the display screen. Viewer must scan the page to see whether it isthe particular page he/she wishes to retrieve. In the prior-art, if aparticular page the viewer wishes to retrieve is many link-levels backfrom the present page, the viewer must repeat this “back-and-wait”process as many times.

Referring now to FIG. 14A-14M2, which shows the sub-framing and arrayingfeatures of the present invention, allowing a multitude of categorieswith a large number of objects within each category to be presented onany electronic device display screen simultaneously by one-click. Beyondwhat can be simultaneously shown in one full view-frame of the displayscreen, additional objects are automatically sequenced/scrolled intoview. Many more rows and columns than can be contained in a singlescreen/view-frame of the device can be accommodated, and viewed bymanual or automatic scrolling. Each row or column can display acategory, or a sub-category under a main category. The startingcategories can first default to the viewer's last selections, or thesite-operator's objectives. Each row/column's content isselectable/changeable by the viewer, facilitated via the “Category” 144button in each row/column. When a viewer moves the cursor onto a“Category” button 144 in a particular row or column, a data entry boxand a nested cascading category tree appears one-level after another. Aviewer can either enter a category name via the data entry box, orselect from the nested cascading category tree, as shown later in FIGS.14E and 14F.

Referring now to FIG. 14A through 14D, when the content, i.e., number ofthumbnails, is more numerous that can be accommodated in one screenviewing area, the present invention allows the sub-frame to contain ascroll bar 142 a, 142 b, 142 c, 142 d to indicate that there is morecontent beyond the viewing area of the screen in the corresponding rowor column. The lengths of scroll bars 142 a, 142 b, 142 c, and 142 dindicate the ratio of the numbers of the thumbnails already scrolledthrough the viewing area of the row/column plus those presentlydisplayed in the viewing area, versus the number of additionalthumbnails that are beyond the right-edge of the row (or bottom edge fora column) of the view-frame, and yet to come into view from the right(or bottom) side. Alternately, within the present invention, one canimplement the scroll bars as floating scroll bars not attached to thetriangle manual scroll pointers 142 a 1 and 142 a 2, 142 b 1 and 142 b2, 142 c 1, 142 c 2 at either ends of the corresponding scroll bars,(see FIG. 14B). The shaded portion of the scroll bar in the “floating”manifestation would have a length when compared with the full-length ofthe scroll bar, represents the proportion of the number of thumbnailsthat are currently visible within the view-frame versus the total numberitems/thumbnails in the category the row is assigned to display. Theposition of the floating scroll bar indicates the position/ordering ofthe thumbnails presently shown in the display view-frame relative to theentire ordered array of all thumbnails in that category row/column. Thelength of un-shaded portion represents the proportion of the totalnumber of the thumbnails in the corresponding category-row/column thatare beyond the right edge of the view-frame, and yet to be scrolled intothe view-frame. The current invention facilitates the automatedscrolling of each row or column presented in a sub-frame, commenced whenthe row or column display space is filled. All rows/columns can bescrolled at the same time, either at the same or different speeds.Alternately, one can auto-scroll one row or one column at a time, or anycombination of the number of rows and columns. The scrolling of thethumbnails in each row/column can be controlled via control buttons, forexample, selectively started or stopped via the “STOP” 146 button and“GO” 148 buttons. The speed of the scrolling of the thumbnails can beselectively increased or decreased, facilitates by the “Faster” and“Slower” buttons 152. The thumbnails can be scrolled either verticallyas shown in column(s) 140 d, or horizontally as shown in rows 140 a, 140b, 140 c, to the left or to the right via the “LEFT” and “RIGHT” buttons156 for rows, or up and down via then “UP” and “DOWN” buttons 158 forcolumns.

FIGS. 14A (at time 0) and 14B (at time 1) are snapshots showing row 1scrolling (notice the shift of the positions of the thumbnails in therow), while rows 2 and 3 remain stationary. FIG. 14C (time 1) is asnapshot showing rows 1 and 2 scrolling (referencing to FIG. 14A at time0) while row 3 remains stationary. FIG. 14D shows all three rowsscrolling. The automate scrolling manifests in the time-1 snapshots 14B,14C, and 14D is shown in the shifting of thumbnail positions and displayof additional thumbnails (those out-of-view in time-0 snapshot FIG. 14A)at the right side of the rows, and the left side thumbnails previouslyin view in FIG. 14A are now out-of-view in FIGS. 14B, 14C, and 14Dcorrespondingly.

Referring now to FIG. 14E, which illustrates the “nested cascadingcategory menu” of this invention, with multiple-select feature. When theviewer moves the cursor to the “Category” button 144, the first levelcategory menu 160 a appears. When the viewer moves the cursor to aparticular category, such as “Vehicles” 162, the next-level categorymenu 160 b appears, listing the categorical choices underneath theparticular 1^(st) level category “Vehicles” 162, which now becomeshighlighted. Similarly, when the viewer moves the cursor to a particularcategory in the 2^(nd) level menu, such as “Minivan” 164, a 3^(rd) levelcategory menu appears next to the 2^(nd) level menu, with the particular2^(nd) level category “Minivan” 164 now also highlighted. The highlightsshow the hierarchy of the cascading menu. Alternately, the viewer canenter a particular category title in the “Enter Category” entry-box 161,and skipping the nested cascading category menu. The example selectionmade in FIG. 14E is “Minivan” 164. When the viewer checks the check-boxin front of “Minivan” 164, and clicks the “See Them” 166 button below,the thumbnails of all of the subcategories as shown in 160 c are broughtforth from the database, displayed and scrolled in this particular rowin the manner described earlier in this disclosure, as shown scrollingin row 140 b in FIG. 14F.

Returning now to FIG. 14E, the nested cascading menu contains themultiple-select feature of this invention. The viewer can select asingle subcategory, or a multitude of subcategories from the 2^(nd)level (or any subsequent levels) category-menu. The viewer can click onthe “check box” to the left of each category to indicate selection, oruse any of the previously described (or any other) alternate methods,such as click on the category title, which would change color toindicate selection. When the viewer completes the selection of amultitude of categories, he/she clicks the “See Them” button 166, tosubmit the selection, which causes the computing device to retreat thethumbnails of all selected categories from the connected storagedevices, and display them in that row or column in the manner of thepresent invention. If the viewer clicks the “See Them” button 166,without making selections from the present menu, all of the categoriesin that menu are displayed.

Referring now to FIGS. 14G through 14M2, illustrating how informationand transaction regarding a multitude of interested thumbnails can beretreated and displayed. As illustrated in FIG. 14G, when the cursor ismoved on top of a particular thumbnail 172 in a row or a column, thescrolling of that row/column stops, and the relative position of thatparticular thumbnail in the total number of thumbnails in thatrow/column-category, along with a brief high-level description 174 ofthe object pictured by the particular thumbnail is displayed adjacent tothe thumbnail. When the cursor is moved away from the thumbnail and thepausing row/column, the high-level description 174 disappears, and theautomatic scrolling resumes. When the viewer decides that the object isof interest from the high level description 174, the viewer “clicks” theinput device while the cursor is rested on the thumbnail of the object.A larger and more detailed picture of the object along with detaileddescriptions and other links to further information and relevantcommands (such as buying, selling, or contact seller commands) isdisplayed in a sub-frame/window 173 as shown in FIG. 14H. When theuser/viewer continues to “overview” the scrolling thumbnails, and findsother interesting thumbnails from the overview, he/she repeats theprocess by moving the cursor onto the next interested thumbnail 186shown in FIG. 141, the high-level description 188 of the thumbnail wouldpop up next to this object, as shown in FIG. 141. Each time, when aninterested thumbnail is “clicked,” a new sub-frame/window pops up toshow the large picture and the detailed information of the objectrepresented by the particular thumbnail, while the previous suchsub-frames/windows, of previously clicked thumbnails can beautomatically minimized, or pushed to the background, and leaving inview only the new sub-frame containing the detailed information andcommand links of the object represented by the most recently clickedthumbnail, as shown in sub frame 192 in FIG. 14J. This is for thepurpose of preserving the maximum viewing of the thumbnail arrays. Anyand all sub-frames can be clicked to the foreground for comparisonamongst one-another, or all together. Each sub-frame/window can containa multitude of command buttons 194 that can be “clicked” to performtasks, for example: (1) to close the individual sub-frame/window, (2) toclose “ALL” such sub-frames/windows that are minimized or in thebackground, (3) to show “ALL” such sub-frames/windows of objectsselected in the session (as shown in FIG. 141) into the foreground asshown in FIG. 14L, and (4) to “submit” request to obtain furtherinformation and relevant command links. These particular command buttonsare shown as an example, but do not limit the type or number of commandbuttons that can be implemented in such sub-frames. The thumbnails thathave been clicked for its detail-information sub-frame are highlightedas shown in FIG. 14K, as long as the thumbnail's sub-frame has not yetbeen “closed” out. When a viewer clicks the “Show All” command button ina sub-frame, all of the sub-frames in the background, along with theones in the foreground would be displayed on the screen with aprogrammable desired ordering. FIG. 14L shows a left-to-right andtop-to-bottom ordering according to the order of “clicking.” The largepicture, further information, and buy/sell command frames of the“submitted” objects (or any other desired connected information andcommands) are presented in the ordered array fashion as previouslydescribed, and shown in FIGS. 14M1-M2. The ordering of the presentationcan be programmed in the present invention to be in reverse order—thelast selected item to be at the top of the array presentation, and thefirst selected at the bottom of the array-in contrast to theshopping-cart software of prior-art, where the first purchase item isalways listed at the top list of “bought items” in the shopping cart,and the last bought item is always at the bottom of the list.

The method and apparatus described herein has many applications,including, but not limited to, 1) storing, selecting, presenting,viewing, examining, and navigation of electronic commerce catalogs incategories, movies, videos, music CDs/Tapes/DVDs, books, other items,other merchandise, and services, 2) storing, selecting, presenting,viewing, and navigation of digital recording of software, equipmentmanuals, manufacturing, repair, and maintenance instructions,products/parts catalogs, and 3) storing, presentation, reading,listening, viewing, and navigation of digitally recorded books,journals, dictionary, encyclopedia, news, and audio, video, or any otherdigitally recorded media. A truncated (shorter) or non-truncated(full-length) self-scrolling row or column can also be used, with orwithout the control buttons, for advertising and promotions.

The present invention is implemented using software, which can bewritten in many computer languages. The present invention can be used ona global or local computer network, on a personal computer, on viewablestorage media such as a CD ROM, on a wireless telephone, on a wirelesspersonal assistant such as a Palm Pilot®, or on any type of wired orwireless device that enables digitally stored information to be viewed.Also, information displayed and viewed using the present invention canbe printed, stored to other storage medium, and electronically mailed tothird parties.

What is claimed is:
 1. A method for configuring and displaying data on adisplay device, the method being implemented by one or more processorsand comprising: configuring data for display in a viewable page formaton the display device, the data comprising a plurality of elementswherein each element comprises an image representation in the form of agraphical thumbnail and further comprises at least one link-token thatprovides a link to an external resource which provides an imageassociated with the element that is larger and more detailed than thegraphical thumbnail and further information associated with the element;configuring a portion of the data into a set of at least one element tobe displayed in a first designated area of the viewable page, the firstdesignated area for the set being smaller than that which is required todisplay the set in its entirety; and in response to displaying theviewable page on a display device, causing performance of an automatedupdating function that updates a first portion of the set displayed inthe first designated area of the viewable page during a first timeinterval with a second portion of the set, so that the second portion isdisplayed in a second time interval in the first designated area of theviewable page; in response to receiving a selection of a first element,showing the image and the further information associated with the firstelement, wherein the image and the further information associated withthe first element was not previously displayed in the first designatedarea of the viewable page; in response to receiving a selection of asecond element, showing the image and the further information associatedwith the second element, wherein the image and the further informationassociated with the second element was not previously displayed in thefirst designated area of the viewable page, and no longer showing thethe image and the further information associated with the first element;in response to receiving one or more subsequent selections of anyelement of the plurality of elements, showing, for each subsequentlyselected element, the image and the further information associated withthe respective subsequently selected element, wherein the image and thefurther information associated with the subsequently selected elementwas not previously displayed in the first designated area of theviewable page, such that the image and further information of anypreviously selected element is no longer displayed; and in response toreceiving a show all selection, causing the display device tosimultaneously display, for each selected element, the image and thefurther information associated with the respective selected element,wherein each image and further information associated with a respectiveselected element is displayed in a predefined arrangement determined, atleast in part, by the order in which the respective selected element wasselected, such that only the arrangement is displayed on the displaydevice.
 2. The method according to claim 1, wherein updating the firstportion of the set further comprises scrolling the first portion off ofthe first designated area and scrolling the second portion onto thefirst designated area in a direction.
 3. The method according to claim2, wherein the scrolling occurs in a direction corresponding to a userinput.
 4. The method according to claim 1, wherein the automaticupdating function is initiated in response to an input from a user. 5.The method according to claim 1, further comprising displaying asub-framed area to display the set of at least one element anddisplaying a visual indicator indicating how much of the total set hasbeen displayed.
 6. The method according to claim 1, further comprisingdisplaying an image corresponding to an element of the set.
 7. Themethod according to claim 1, wherein in response to an element of theset being selected, the automatic updating function is stopped prior todisplaying the image and further information associated with theselected element.
 8. The method according to claim 1, wherein theautomatic updating function is configured to stop updating when a cursoris positioned a distance of at least proximate to an element of the set,and is configured to resume when the cursor is positioned a furtherdistance from the set.
 9. The method according to claim 1, furtherincluding a mechanism to emphasize a selected element of the set todifferentiate from other elements.
 10. The method according to claim 1,wherein the automatic updating function has a rate of updating, and therate of updating is controlled in response to a user input.
 11. Themethod according to claim 1, wherein the step of causing performance ofan automated updating function further comprises the automatic updatingfunction displaying a first element of the set during a first timeinterval, and displaying a second element of the set during a secondtime interval.
 12. A system for configuring and displaying data on adisplay device, the system comprising: one or more processors; softwareto configure data for display on a display device in a viewable pageformat, the data comprising a plurality of elements wherein each elementcomprises an image representation in the form of a graphical thumbnailand further comprises at least one link-token that provides a link to anexternal resource which provides an image associated with the elementthat is larger and more detailed than the graphical thumbnail andfurther information associated with the element; the softwareconfiguring a portion of the data into a set of at least one element tobe displayed in a first designated area of the viewable page, whereinthe first designated area for the set of at least one element is smallerthan that which is required to display the set in its entirety; and inresponse to displaying the viewable range, the software causingperformance of an automated updating function that updates a firstportion of the set displayed during a first time interval in the firstdesignated area of the viewable page with a second portion of the set sothat the second portion is displayed during a second time interval inthe first designated area of the viewable page; in response to receivinga selection of a first element, showing the image and the furtherinformation associated with the first element, wherein the image and thefurther information associated with the first element was not previouslydisplayed in the first designated area of the viewable page; in responseto receiving a selection of a second element, showing the image and thefurther information associated with the second element, wherein theimage and the further information associated with the second element wasnot previously displayed in the first designated area of the viewablepage, and no longer showing the the image and the further informationassociated with the first element; in response to receiving one or moresubsequent selections of any element of the plurality of elements,showing, for each subsequently selected element, the image and thefurther information associated with the respective subsequently selectedelement, wherein the image and the further information associated withthe subsequently selected element was not previously displayed in thefirst designated area of the viewable page, such that the image andfurther information of any previously selected element is no longerdisplayed; and in response to receiving a show all selection, causingthe display device to simultaneously display, for each selected element,the image and the further information associated with the respectiveselected element, wherein each image and further information associatedwith a respective selected element is displayed in a predefinedarrangement determined, at least in part, by the order in which therespective selected element was selected, such that only the arrangementis displayed on the display device.
 13. The system according to claim12, wherein updating the first portion of the set includes scrolling thefirst portion off of the first designated display area and scrolling thesecond portion onto the first designated display area in a direction.14. The system according to claim 13, further comprising scrolling in adirection corresponding to a user input.
 15. The system according toclaim 12 further comprising a mechanism, displayed on the firstdesignated area of the viewable page, configured to initiate theautomated updating function.
 16. The system according to claim 12further comprising a sub-framed area to display the set of at least oneelement, and further comprising a visual indicator to indicate how muchof the total set has been displayed.
 17. The system according to claim12, further comprising an image representation of an objectcorresponding to an element of the set.
 18. The system according toclaim 12, wherein upon selection of an element of the set, the updatingis caused to stop prior to displaying the image and further informationassociated with the selected element.
 19. The system according to claim12, wherein the automatic updating function is configured to stopupdating when a cursor is positioned a distance of at least proximate toa displayed element of the set, and is configured to resume updatingwhen the cursor is positioned a further distance from the set.
 20. Thesystem according to claim 12, further including a mechanism to emphasizea selected element of the set to differentiate the marked element fromother elements.
 21. The method according to claim 12, wherein theautomatic updating function displays a first element of the set during afirst time interval, and displays a second element of the set during asecond time interval.
 22. The system according to claim 12, wherein theautomatic updating function has a rate of updating, and the firstdesignated area includes a mechanism configured to control the rate ofupdating.